Commentary #1 An examination of Neil Postman’s chapter "The Judgement of Thamus" in Technopoly - by David Wood The main argument this book explores is not between humanists and scientists‚ but between technology and everybody else. Most people believe that technology is a friend. It is a friend that asks for trust and obedience‚ which most give because its gifts are bountiful. The dark side it that it creates a culture without moral foundation‚ undermines certain mental processes and social relations
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Typography. Neil Postman explains in his book‚ Amusing Ourselves to Death; Public Discourse in the age of show business‚ the transition from the Age of Typography to the Age of Television. In the beginning of the book he explains that this shift has dramatically changed the context and meaning of public discourse. Postman feared that the love of television would grow so deeply that people would watch and the message would be conveyed as entertainment and not a serious matter. Postman theorized that
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In Neil Postman’s "Defending Against the Indefensible"‚ he suggests that our society has been culturally brainwashed. Therefore‚ Postman has given us seven key elements of critical thinking to help us understand the English language and avoid the manipulation of language: definition‚ questions‚ simplicity of words‚ metaphors‚ reification‚ style and tone‚ and the non-neutrality of media. Postman’s first principle is that a definition is only a means of helping us achieve our goals. Definitions
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In Neil Postman’s novel‚ Amusing Ourselves to Death‚ he argues that rationality in America has become dictated by television. Through the use of ethos‚ pathos‚ and logos‚ Postman demonstrates that his claim is valid and reliable. These are three forms of persuasion that are used to influence others to agree with a particular point of view. Ethos‚ or ethical appeal‚ is used to build an author’s image. Ethos establishes a sense of credibility and good character for the author (Henning). Pathos‚ or
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Under the guise of a friendly household companion‚ in nearly every American living room lingers a cultural time bomb‚ set to detonate at the precise moment we realize we are too late. In Neil Postman’s 1985 book‚ “Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business”‚ the author informs us that our culture is molded by the media of our public information exchange‚ and enlightens us of the way the today’s predominant medium represents a significant change from the media of yesteryear
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Death‚ by Neil Postman‚ the concept of the “media metaphor” is introduced. Postman presents the idea that every civilization’s “conversation” is hindered by the jaundice of the media it utilizes. He uses the term “conversation” in reference to the exchange of information and the ways in which it is exchanged. The forms of conversation affect what is convenient to express‚ therefore‚ what’s conveniently expressed becomes the content of culture. To further demonstrate this concept‚ Postman presents
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of the world’s population at the time – were killed. In 1976‚ approximately 3‚000 people died from the same disease – roughly 0.00007% of the world’s population at that time. What changed? Progress. A word Neil Postman doesn’t seem to acknowledge in his essay‚ Future Shlock. You see‚ Mr. Postman has a theory. He essentially states that after future shock‚ a phrase that describes “the social paralysis induced by rapid technological change”‚ a phenomenon called future shlock occurs. This phenomenon
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In almost any commercial you watch today‚ you will notice that they rarely tell you something about the product being sold. Neil Postman stated‚ "The television commercial is not all about the character of the product to be consumed. It’s about the character of the consumers of products" (128). I find this very true. Commercials combine the use of sight‚ sound‚ color‚ motion‚ and often humor to put forth an effective message. Within a short period of time‚ these advertisements can capture one’s attention
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pastimes” (Dewey). Neil Postman and Bell Hooks both found themselves intrigued when they learned of this term‚ which led to them researching more about them‚ and eventually writing two different sides to a very similar story. The television show the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air‚ proves that it can be something educational to watch. While at the same time‚ show the story of a young man from West Philadelphia‚ just trying to make a better life for himself. When it came to Neil Postman who talked about
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technologies; the most recent being television. Neil Postman’s book‚ Amusing Ourselves To Death‚ is about the underrated significance of one technology replacing another. Postman accomplishes this by providing perspectives from history‚ touching on technology and waking the reader to the changing world around them. To summarize chapter one and two‚ Postman believes that television is responsible for a negative trend in America’s public discourse. According to Postman‚ the change in technology to television
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